New Delhi, The Delhi High Court on Monday set July 16 as the next hearing date for the CBI’s petition challenging a lower court’s order discharging Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Durgesh Pathak, and other accused in the liquor policy case.
Justice Manoj Jain noted that three “vakalatnama” (authorization letters) appeared to have been filed on behalf of the three AAP leaders who were not represented. These three leaders had previously boycotted proceedings before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma. The court adjourned the hearing to ensure the presence of lawyers, as lawyers were on strike at the High Court today.
A vakalatnama is an authorization letter submitted by a lawyer to represent a party in court. The court said, “If they have filed a vakalatnama, we can see in the next hearing what date can be given and a schedule can be prepared… It appears that a vakalatnama has been filed.”
The judge made this remark while listing the case for hearing on July 16. However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), urged the court to schedule the matter for Wednesday to set a hearing before the summer break. In response, Justice Manoj said the court is prioritizing matters related to life and liberty.
Contempt Proceedings Initiated Over Social Media Posts
This case related to the excise policy came before Justice Jain after Justice Sharma recused herself earlier this month, following the initiation of contempt proceedings against Kejriwal, Sisodia, Pathak, and others for allegedly posting defamatory content on social media against her. When the matter was listed before Justice Jain on May 19, he had asked the CBI to inform the AAP leaders about the change in bench.
The lower court on February 27 had discharged former Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal, Sisodia, and 21 others in the liquor policy case. The CBI filed a petition in the High Court, and on March 9, Justice Sharma’s bench stayed the lower court’s recommendation to initiate departmental action against the CBI’s investigating officer in the liquor policy case.
Kejriwal-Sisodia Adopted the Path of ‘Satyagraha’
Issuing notices to all 23 accused on the CBI’s petition against their discharge, Justice Sharma stated that certain observations and conclusions of the lower court at the stage of framing charges appeared prima facie erroneous and required consideration. Subsequently, Kejriwal, Sisodia, Pathak, and some other defendants requested Justice Sharma to recuse herself from the case, citing bias and conflict of interest.
Justice Sharma dismissed their plea for recusal on April 20. Thereafter, Kejriwal, Sisodia, and Pathak wrote to Justice Sharma, stating they would not appear before her personally or through any lawyer, and would follow “Mahatma Gandhi’s path of Satyagraha.”
